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Sunny Shao
I am a computational social scientist by training and a hands-on project manager by experience. Familiar with end-to-end data science ecosystem; In-depth knowledge in working with various stakeholders in both academic and business setting
Education
PhD. Candidate, Political Science
University of California
Riverside, CA
2021 - 2016
- MASS BEHAVIOR & COMPUTATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE
- Dissertation: How Mainstream Media Shapes Political Sentiment on WeChat? Understanding Political Moblization Through Social Media Discourse
Applied Machine Learning Workshop
Rstudio
San Francisco, CA
2020
M.S., Public Policy in Econometrics
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
2015 - 2013
- Focused on econometrics and local governance
B.A., International Communications
Nottingham University
Nottingham, UK
2013 - 2010
- Studied communication theory and public spheres on social media platforms
Work Experience
Researcher & Center Associate
Center for Social Innovation (UCR)
Riverside, CA
current - 2018
- missioned to lead projects that uplift the community of color offering executable data-driven action plans
- work with a diverse background of scholars and R users to produce deliverables such as reports and data dashboards
- In-depth knowledge about many open source R packages and their application in both academic and industry settings
Researcher
AAPI Data
Riverside, CA
current - 2017
- Experienced in coordinating and working with both internal and external stakeholders in a team with many moving factors
- Deep knowledge in designing, executing and managing end-to-end data science projects
- 4+ years of experience in high-pace social science research team with frequent ad-hoc requests and challenges
Summer Fellow
Education Pioneer
Los Angeles, CA
2016
- Worked closely with coordinators, principals and teachers on program evaluations
- Created stratified weighted sampling surveys to evaluate programs of Camino Nuevo charter school network
- Designed protocols and methodology for future program evaluations
Data Analyst Intern
SmartAnalyst
Gurgaon, India
2012
- Interviewed thoracic oncologists in Japan and China for pharmaceutical clients, who are on phase II trials of non-small cell lung cancer drugs
- Translated three-way phone meetings between client, SmartAnalyst and Chinese thoracic oncologists
- Crowdsourced a list of thoracic oncologists through medical journals
I have worked independently on various projects at AAPI Data and CSI, coordinated directly with stakeholders, funders, and journalists who are not data experts themselves. I was also responsible for managing stakeholders’ expectations and communicating project progress with them from initiation to closing.
Teaching & Workshop Experience
ArcGIS Lab
Center for Social Innovation
Riverside, CA
current - 2020
- Spatial Data Visualization & Mapping Application Development
- Initiate the workshop and organized and taught each session
- Lectured on using ArcGIS online tools to create interactive mapping tools
Analyzing ACS data with tidyverse and tidycensus R packages
Center for Social Innovation
Riverside, CA
2020
Infographic Design with Adobe illustrator
AAPI Data
Riverside, CA
2019
Data Narrative Action (DNA): Data Visualization & Cesus Factfinder Tools
Social Innovation Institute
Riverside, CA
2018
Applied Econometrics & Microeconomics
School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
2015 - 2014
- TA and lectured
- Topics covered from penalized regression to boosted trees and neural networks
Selected Interactive Data Tool Development
Inland Empire COVID Monitor
ArcGIS
N/A
current - 2020
2020 Census and Beyond: Mapping the Geography and Diversity of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
R & ArcGIS
N/A
current - 2020
Survey Projects
Asian American Voter Survey
AAPI Data, APIAVote & AAAJC
N/A
2020 - 2018
- National experimental survey conducted in English & 8+ Asian langauges
Inland Empire Non-profit/Civic Engagement Survey
Center for Social Innovation, UC Riverside
N/A
2020 - 2019
- Inland Empire Region of CA
National Asian American Survey
AAPI DATA
N/A
2018 - 2018
- National survey
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Visibility Survey
AAPI Data
N/A
2018
- National
Selected Published Research Reports
Reaching Low-Propensity Voters in California’s November 2020 Elections: Recommendations from focus group research and community partner engagement
California Common Cause & Center for Social Innovation
N/A
2020
Untapped Power: The Strength of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Working People
APALA & AAPI Data
N/A
2019
Selected Presentations & Invited Talks
ArcGIS Lab
Center for Social Innovation
Riverside, CA
current - 2020
- Spatial Data Visualization & Mapping Application Development
- Initiate the workshop and organized and taught each session
- Lectured on using ArcGIS online tools to create interactive mapping tools
Analyzing ACS data with tidyverse and tidycensus R packages
Center for Social Innovation
Riverside, CA
2020
Infographic Design with Adobe illustrator
AAPI Data
Riverside, CA
2019
Data Narrative Action (DNA): Data Visualization & Cesus Factfinder Tools
Social Innovation Institute
Riverside, CA
2018
2020 Census and Beyond: New Tool for AAPI Census Efforts
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy
Virtual
2019
Key Patterns and Trends Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Chinese American Demographics & Political Engagement
National Conference of State Legislators
Los Angeles, CA
2018
2018 and Beyond: Data, Narrative, and Action
Advancing Justice Conference
Atlanta, GA
2018
Resources for Engaging in the Debate Over Data Disaggregation
Association of Asian American Studies
San Francisco, CA
2018
Should Federal Government Mandate Vaccination for Children
RAND LA Policy Symposium
Santa Monica, CA
2015
Selected blogs
Understanding the Struggles of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
N/A
N/A
2019
- Authored with Dr. Janelle Wong & Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan
Record Gains in AAPI Voting Likely to Continue Through 2020
N/A
N/A
2018
- Authored with Dr. Sono Shah & Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan
Here’s what you need to know about AAPIs running for Congress in 2018
N/A
N/A
2018
- Authored with Dr. Sono Shah
Selected Press
WeChat is a lifeline for the Chinese diaspora. What happens now that Trump banned it?
Los Angeles Time
N/A
2020
Chinese American Trump fans raise election recount funds on WeChat: New fundraising arm preps for comeback, quietly steers some donations to debts
Nikkei Asia
N/A
2020
US Election Special III: Election results update, Chinese Americans’ voters in NYC
RTHK 31 Cable Network
N/A
2020
Grants and Awards
Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society
N/A
Malibu, CA
current - 2015
GSA Conference Travel Grant
N/A
Riverside, CA
2021 - 2016
Coulter Foundation GSA Grant
N/A
N/A
2021 - 2017
2020 Rstudio conference Diversity Scholarship
N/A
San Francisco, CA
2020
UCR Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship
N/A
Riverside, CA
2017 - 2016
Pepperdine Graduate School Scholarship Award
N/A
Malibu, CA
2015 - 2013
Pepperdine Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship
N/A
Malibu, CA
2014